Eurovision Song Contest 1985 — 30th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest
Norway won its first Eurovision contest in 1985 with the lowest-scoring winning entry recorded under the 1975–2015 voting system.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 30th Eurovision Song Contest
- Date
- 4 May 1985
- Winning song
- "La det swinge" by Bobbysocks (Norway)
- Winning score
- 123 points (lowest winner under 1975–2015 system)
- Participating countries
- 19
- Venue
- Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Sweden's Herreys won the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest with "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley", obligating Sveriges Television (SVT) and the European Broadcasting Union to stage the following year's contest in Sweden. Gothenburg's Scandinavium arena was selected as the venue, and presenter Lill Lindfors was chosen to host the event.
On 4 May 1985, nineteen countries competed at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg. Greece and Israel returned after a one-year absence, while the Netherlands and Yugoslavia withdrew due to domestic memorial events. Norway's entry "La det swinge", performed by Bobbysocks and composed by Rolf Løvland, won the contest with 123 points, followed by Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
Norway claimed its first-ever Eurovision victory, a notable turnaround for a country that had finished last six times and received nul points on three occasions. The winning score of 123 points became the lowest recorded under the voting system in use from 1975 to 2015, highlighting how competitive that year's field was despite the reduced participant count.
Work
Eurovision Song Contest 1985 — "La det swinge" (winner)
Norway's first Eurovision victory, achieved with the lowest winning score under the 1975–2015 points system, marked a historic reversal for a country previously known for poor contest results.